OUR VIEW: A tale of two inspectors

There appears to be a modern version of “The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” playing out on the public stage in Freetown. Is Building Inspector/Health Agent Paul Bourgeouis Freetown’s biggest bully or the town’s most hard-working professional? Apparently, it depends on whom you ask.

The Herald News, Fall River, MA

Writer

Posted Mar. 4, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated Mar 4, 2013 at 4:23 AM

Posted Mar. 4, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated Mar 4, 2013 at 4:23 AM

» Social News

There appears to be a modern version of “The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” playing out on the public stage in Freetown. Is Building Inspector/Health Agent Paul Bourgeouis Freetown’s biggest bully or the town’s most hard-working professional? Apparently, it depends on whom you ask.

Granted, no one likes the man who says, “no.” But, according to numerous allegations that have surfaced over the years, the town’s lone inspector/health agent has made life miserable for businesspeople and residents — except for the chosen few who, it’s alleged, have been given preferential treatment. Last Monday, after TV news investigative reports shined a bright light on the troubling allegations against Bourgeois, dozens of residents demanded that their selectmen take action.

But not everyone told selectmen the same story. The Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde dynamic was on full display at last week’s selectmen’s meeting. One resident praised Bourgeois for his professionalism. Another painted a very different picture of an unethical town official, drunk on power and stomping out dreams.

Sadly, despite the complaints about Bourgeois’ heavy-handed style from a variety of quarters, the Freetown Board of Selectmen has never gotten to the bottom of it. They’ve apparently just allowed the allegations of impropriety and abusive treatment involving the inspector to fester for years. But Bourgeois’ actions have not only been a thorn in the side of people intending to improve property or open businesses, they have cost the aggrieved parties a great deal of time and money. The delays resulting from the rolls of red tape have also cost the town tax revenue.

Some businesspeople in town finally reached their boiling point and decided to stand up to Bourgeois, taking matters into their own hands by hiring a private investigator to document the alleged impropriety. Richard Padelford, the owner of Crossroads Plaza in East Freetown, and Roger Choquette, the owner of Flint Armament, had to take the extraordinary step to hire an investigator.

Choquette called his first encounter with Bourgeois “hate at first sight.” He said Bourgeois’ questionable decisions this fall led to a two-month delay in Choquette opening his Freetown gun and ammo store. “Mr. Bourgeois made it impossible for me — the second I met the guy,” Choquette said.

Padelford and Choquette aren’t alone in taking such an action. Rhode Island developer Michael Kent, who has a lawsuit against the town, launched his own investigation, alleging that Bourgeois has single-handedly held up progress on the Woodlawn Estates residential subdivision in Assonet.

Bourgeois has been accused by Padelford and Choquette, along with other businesspeople over the years, of giving preferential treatment to the chosen few while creating a regulatory nightmare for others. More seriously, he has been accused of “unethical business dealings,” using his position to help renovate properties and “flip” them for a profit.

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Bourgeois has defended himself against some of the claims, saying that he filed necessary conflict of interest forms and has treated people fairly. “For the life of me, I don’t know why he is (ticked off) at me. I think I have been fair to him; my job is to enforce the rules and protect the public, and I think that is what I have done,” Bourgeois said.

But the evidence is mounting from both private investigations and news reports that there’s more to the story. It should have never gotten to this point. Taxpayers should not be forced to hire private investigators for their calls for accountability of a town official to finally be answered.

Freetown selectmen have turned a blind eye to the complaints for too long and the result has been mounting legal expenses and lost tax revenue. Now it’s time to get to the bottom of these complaints. Selectmen have a responsibility to get the facts and swiftly take necessary corrective action to right the alleged wrongs.